1. The United States should avoid conflict with other countries at any cost.
The United States should object to the policies of other countries to protect those who are threatened or harmed by them, even when our own security is at risk.
The United States should object to the policies of other countries only if our own security is at risk.

2. The Coming of War

3. The Treaty of Versailles (1919)

4. A Changed Europe

5. A Changed Europe

6. Dictatorship autocratic form of absolute rule
leadership unrestricted by law, constitutions, or other social and political factors within the state.

7. Totalitarianism Twentieth-century phenomenon
A single party or leader controls the economic, social, and cultural lives of its people

8. Characteristics of a totalitarian state
Single-party dictatorship exerting control over all aspects of life
Strong, charismatic leader often at head of government
State control of the economy
Use of police, spies, and terror to enforce the will of the state
Government control the media and use of propaganda to indoctrinate citizens
Use of schools and youth to spread ideology to citizens
Strict censorship of artists, intellectuals, and political rivals with dissenting opinions

9. In other words… Dictatorship Totalitarianism
source of the governing power
where the power comes from
Contrast to democracy
Dictatorship: government without people's consent
Democracy: government whose power comes from people
scope of the governing power
what is the government
Contrast to pluralism
Totalitarianism: government controls every aspect of people's life
Pluralism: government allows multiple lifestyles and opinions

10. The Soviet Union

11. Soviet Union 1917: Russian Communist Revolution
First totalitarian state (Vladamir Lenin)
1924: Joseph Stalin becomes head of the state

12. Joseph Stalin “Man of Steel” Transform the Soviet Union
Suspicious, cruel, ruthless, tyrannical
Transform the Soviet Union
Industrial power
State-run collective farms
10 million deaths
Great Terror (1930s)
Purge of the Communist Party

13. Joseph Stalin
A combination of fear and massive propaganda kept Stalin in power

14. Italy

15. Italy Totalitarianism—direct result of the war and the peace treaties
Land
Depression
Communist movement
Weak and inept government

16. Benito Mussolini 1919: Fasci di Combattimento (Fascist Party)
Right-wing organization
Promotes nationalism
Promised to make Italy great again
“Black Shirts”
Fought socialists and communists

17. Benito Mussolini 1922: forms government “Il Duce” (“the leader”)
Controlled government and army within a few years
Outlaws political parties
Controlled press
Secret police
Youth groups
Suppressed strikes
Opposed liberalism and socialism

18. Benito Mussolini
Never held the same power over Italy that Stalin held over the Soviet Union.

19. Germany

20. Weimar Republic German democracy Struggled throughout the 1920s
Establishing new government
Economic problems
Runaway inflation
Resented the Treaty of Versailles
Worldwide Great Depression

21. The Nazis National Socialist German Workers’ Party
Opposed socialism, communism
German ethnic solidarity

22. Adolph Hitler Joined the small Nazi Party after WWI
Soon gained control
Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”)
Explained Germany’s troubles
People, political programs, ideologies
Communists and Jews
Anti-Semitism in Europe
Outlined hatreds, plans for world domination

23. Adolph Hitler 1933: Hitler appointed chancellor of Germany
1934: Führer
Complete control of state and military
Unchecked by Reichstag
Symbol of the totalitarian regime
Secret police
State-controlled press, education system

24. Adolph Hitler Economic policies ended depression
Rearmament
Public works projects
Political initiatives restricted freedom
Jews
Communists
Socialists
Propaganda against Jews

25. Japan

26. Japan 1920s: democracy Reduced military power
All men have the right to vote
Legalized trade unions
Diverse political parties

27. Japan Great Depression ended this period
Increasing military power could solve economic problems
Japan did not become a totalitarian dictatorship
Constitutional monarchy

28. Japan Aggressive military expansion 1931: Manchuria
1937: control over China
Railroads, coastal areas
“The Rape of Nanjing”

29. 1930s: The Decade of Aggression
“The best lack all conviction and the worst are full of passionate intensity.”
William Butler Yeats

30. 1930s: The Decade of Aggression
League of Nations
Only as strong as its members’ resolve
Hitler
Reunifying Germanic people under one Reich (state)
Saar; Rhineland
Mussolini
1935: Invasion of Ethiopia

31. 1930s: The Decade of Aggression
Spanish Civil War ( )
Nationalists (fascists) rebelled against democratic Republican government
Nationalists aided by Hitler and Mussolini
Soviet Union aids Republicans
France, Britain, U.S. remain uninvolved

32. Appeasement
Grants concessions to a potential enemy in the hope that it will maintain peace
Li'l Hitler
Austria—Anschluss
Sudetenland (w. Czechoslovakia)
Munich Pact: “peace for our time.”
11 months later…

33. Germany Strikes Back
Hitler violated Treaty of Versailles (WWI) and reclaimed parts of Germany
Claimed half of Czechoslovakia as part of German land (took other half later)
Annexed Austria into German lands (1938)
British & French used appeasement to keep Hitler from starting WWII
Germans invaded Poland (Sept. 1939) and Allies finally declared war

34. WWII Begins Modern German military conquered Poland in just two weeks
Blitzkrieg: fast moving attack combining land and air forces
-Cover large amounts of land quickly
-Overwhelm enemy with speed, force
- “Lightning war”
Millions of Polish Jews now under Nazi control

36. Article Questions
How did the lack of action by the French and British affect the Germans’ plans?
What is a non-aggression pact and why did it matter in 1939?
What excuse did the Germans use to justify their invasion of Poland?
What was the British ultimatum to Germany?
How did Hitler and his men react to the news of the ultimatum?
Many believe that war could have been avoided if France and Britain had reacted differently. How do you think things may have changed if they had stood up to him sooner?

37. U.S. Stays Neutral
Americans were not interested in fighting another World War at first
U.S. loaned money and supplies to British (Cash and Carry/Lend-Lease programs)
U.S. committed to neutrality during first years of war
U.S. responded to Japan’s invasion of China by cutting off trade (oil)
Japan saw U.S. as only threat to their control over Pacific region

39. Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941
-Japanese fighters and subs attacked U.S. naval base and air fields in Hawaii
-Over 2,000 Americans killed
-Most of American Pacific fleet destroyed (except carriers)
-Americans angry, ready to go to war
- “Sleeping giant” of American industry awakened
-Volunteers signed up to fight; work in factories